Patent US3743372A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3743372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storing
Assignee: Nasco Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-26
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A modular storage system designed with reference to a modular base unit having a height equal to one height module and a width equal to one width module and including at least two removably interconnectable storage units each of rectangular cross section and having a height equal to an integral number of height modules and a width equal to an integral number of width modules, each side wall of each storage unit carrying an integral number of interconnection systems, the number of systems of each wall being equal to the height or width of the particular wall in height or width modules, and each interconnection system of each unit being adapted for removable interconnection with the other unit.
Inventors
- 👤 G Ruggerone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:23
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B87/00; A47B87/02; A47B67/00; A47B67/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
391 words
A modular storage system designed with reference to a modular base unit having a substantially square transverse cross-section with a height and a width each substantially equal to one modular unit, said system comprising: a first storage unit; a second storage unit; and, a third storage unit, each of said storage units having longitudinally-extending top, bottom, left, and right walls defining a substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section frame having a height and a width each respectively equal to an integral number of modular units, one of the height and width of each of said units being equal to one modular unit, each of said storage units including at least one drawer slidably mounted within the frame thereof, each of said units having one of a different height, a different width, and a different number of drawers than each of the others of said units, each of said longitudinally-extending side walls of each of said units carrying an integral number of interlock systems, each of said interlock systems being symmetrical about a longitudinally-extending center line thereof, the number of said interlock systems being carried by each of said side walls being equal to the width of the respective side wall in modular units, the center line of each interlock system on each side wall of each of said units exTending parallel to another side wall of said each unit at a distance therefrom equal to onehalf a modular unit and the center lines of the interlock systems carried by side walls carrying more than one interlock system being regularly spaced at intervals equal to one modular unit, each of said units being adapted for removable interconnection to any of the interlock systems of the others of said units, the interlock system carried by each of a respective pair of adjacent side walls of each of said units being a male interlock system comprising a longitudinally-extending land having a width of about one-half a modular unit, and the interlock system on each of a respective second pair of adjacent side walls of each of said units being a female interlock system including a longitudinally-extending groove having a width of about one-half a modular unit and adapted for receiving one of said lands in slidably removable mating engagement, and said interlock systems including stops for limiting sliding engagement of said lands in said grooves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
391 words
A modular storage system designed with reference to a modular base unit having a substantially square transverse cross-section with a height and a width each substantially equal to one modular unit, said system comprising: a first storage unit; a second storage unit; and, a third storage unit, each of said storage units having longitudinally-extending top, bottom, left, and right walls defining a substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section frame having a height and a width each respectively equal to an integral number of modular units, one of the height and width of each of said units being equal to one modular unit, each of said storage units including at least one drawer slidably mounted within the frame thereof, each of said units having one of a different height, a different width, and a different number of drawers than each of the others of said units, each of said longitudinally-extending side walls of each of said units carrying an integral number of interlock systems, each of said interlock systems being symmetrical about a longitudinally-extending center line thereof, the number of said interlock systems being carried by each of said side walls being equal to the width of the respective side wall in modular units, the center line of each interlock system on each side wall of each of said units exTending parallel to another side wall of said each unit at a distance therefrom equal to onehalf a modular unit and the center lines of the interlock systems carried by side walls carrying more than one interlock system being regularly spaced at intervals equal to one modular unit, each of said units being adapted for removable interconnection to any of the interlock systems of the others of said units, the interlock system carried by each of a respective pair of adjacent side walls of each of said units being a male interlock system comprising a longitudinally-extending land having a width of about one-half a modular unit, and the interlock system on each of a respective second pair of adjacent side walls of each of said units being a female interlock system including a longitudinally-extending groove having a width of about one-half a modular unit and adapted for receiving one of said lands in slidably removable mating engagement, and said interlock systems including stops for limiting sliding engagement of said lands in said grooves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls is of substantially the same overall thickness, and the thickness of each of said lands and the depth of each of said grooves is substantially equal to one-half said overall thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 2 wherein each of said lands includes a detent and each of said grooves includes a lug adapted for engaging one of said detents when the land carrying said one detent is in mating engagement therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the color of the drawer of each of said units is predetermined with reference to the configuration of said each unit and is different than the color of the drawer of the others of said units for visually differentiating said units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 1 wherein one of said units includes a pair of drawers mounted therein, each drawer of said pair extending substantially the width of said one unit and substantially one-half the height of said one unit, one drawer of said pair including a longitudinally-extending recess adjacent each lower longitudinally-extending edge thereof, and the left and right side walls of said one unit define inwardly projecting rails adapted for engaging said recesses of said one drawer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 5 wherein a drawer of at least one of said units includes therein means for dividing the interior of said drawer into compartments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said drawer of said one unit is free from interior partitions and said means includes a plurality of rectangular in horizontal cross-section cups of differing sizes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 including a pair of keyhole shaped openings provided on the rear of each of said units for mounting said units on a support.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |